How life has changed in South Lakeland

South Lakeland's population increased by about 1,400 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the most notable changes among the local population.

The population passed 100,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of South Lakeland increased by 1.3%, from about 102,000 to 104,000.

The addition of just under 1,400 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, South Lakeland was home to, on average, 0.49 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the North West's second-least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older South Lakeland

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of South Lakeland increased by four years, from 44 to 48 years.

This area had the highest average age in the North West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 4,100 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 3,000.

About 16.0% of people in South Lakeland are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and South Lakeland by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in South Lakeland

The percentage of South Lakeland residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 8.1% to 8.3% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.5%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.8% in 2001. The percentage of South Lakeland residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89.2% to 88.2%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 7.0% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

More single people in South Lakeland

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership increased in South Lakeland, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the North West.

Every local authority area across the North West saw a rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership, as the regional average grew from 30.1% to 35.6%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of South Lakeland residents that were studying increased from 2.4% to 2.5% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in two (51.3%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 49.2% in 2001. The percentage of South Lakeland residents that were unemployed remained close to 2.0%.

The proportion of students decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across the North West. The improvement brought health in South Lakeland close to the regional average 3.5% in the North West described their health as good in 2011).

The percentage of students was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were in education across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in South Lakeland

Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation in South Lakeland, the largest percentage point increase was among those who said they had no religion, rising 10.8 points between 2001 and 2011. The census question about religion is voluntary, so varying response rates mean caution is needed when comparing figures between different areas or between censuses.

In 2011, 25.0% of respondents in South Lakeland said they had no religion, up from 14.2% in 2001.

Across the North West, the percentage of respondents who described themselves as having no religion increased from 11.3% to 21.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Around 73.8% of respondents in South Lakeland said they were Christian, down from 84.9% in 2001. About 0.5% said they were Buddhist, up from 0.4% a decade prior.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in South Lakeland increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, North West and South Lakeland by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of South Lakeland residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.6% to 4.5% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81.9%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69.2% in 2001. The percentage of South Lakeland residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22.2% to 13.6%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11.0% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in South Lakeland decreased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in South Lakeland, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in South Lakeland working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14.2% to 11.0% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.5%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11.1% in 2001 to 8.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in South Lakeland decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in South Lakeland, the North West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in South Lakeland, but at a slower rate than across the North West.

In South Lakeland, the proportion of private renting increased from 11.2% in 2001 to 14.2% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 8.5% to 15.4%.

Across the North West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15.4%.

The rate of social housing in South Lakeland remained close to 10.4%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 75.3% to 73.0%.

Private renting in South Lakeland increased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in South Lakeland, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes without children

The percentage of households without children increased in South Lakeland at a faster rate than across England.

In South Lakeland, the proportion of households without children increased from 67.2% in 2001 to 69.8% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 61.1% to 61.2%.

Across the North West, the share of households without children increased from 59.3% to 60.8%.

The proportion of households with children in South Lakeland fell from 24.3% to 22.2%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 8.5% to 8.0%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the North West

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

More people living alone

The percentage of one-person households increased in South Lakeland, but at a slower rate than in Barrow-in-Furness (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with South Lakeland).

In South Lakeland, the proportion of one-person households increased from 29.9% in 2001 to 32.4% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Barrow-in-Furness increased from 29.9% to 34.6%.

Across the North West, the share of one-person households increased from 30.9% to 32.2%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in South Lakeland increased from 7.5% to 8.6%, while the percentage of households with a married couple decreased from 38.9% to 35.3%.

The percentage of households with only one person was higher than across the North West

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in South Lakeland

In 2011, 98.4% of South Lakeland residents said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 99.2% in 2001.

Across the North West, the percentage of people from one of the White ethnic groups decreased from 94.4% to 90.2%, while across England the percentage went from 90.7% to 85.1%.

Around 0.8% of people in South Lakeland said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 0.3% in 2001. About 0.6% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.4% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.1% to 0.2%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from one of the White ethnic groups in South Lakeland remained close to 98.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and South Lakeland by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of South Lakeland residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.8% to 2.3% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.0%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 2.4% in 2001 to 2.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in South Lakeland remained close to 2.3%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and South Lakeland by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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